Kilometre 'cock-up'

Labour councillor Brian Watson warned council chiefs to be more careful in future after the signs were put up with distances in kilometres instead of miles.

"I always work in miles because of the speedometer on my car," Coun Watson said.

"I can't believe they got it wrong. They should take more care in future."

Anti-metric campaigners argue it is illegal to put up any highway signs with metric measurements, including those on public rights of way, under section 131 of the 1980 Highway Act.

Peter Rogers, a supporter of Active Resistance to Metrication (ARM), welcomed the council's decision to replace the signage. "Each time we are successful, it is a small but significant step towards eradicating them from our country," he said.

"The imperial weights and measures of this country are part of our traditions and part of our culture.

"The attempts to impose metric signs is one by stealth and deception and has been going on for many years."

Council chiefs admitted they got it wrong.

A spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that 30 new signs were erected with distances given in metric measures.

"This was a genuine error and, as soon as it was brought to our attention, we took measures to amend it.

"Giving information on a footpath sign such as the distance and destination is discretionary and we thought the public would appreciate this extra detail.

"The Ordnance Survey maps that we use to measure the footpaths are metric and the walk packs that we sell describe walks in kilometres, so it made sense to the officer who ordered the signs to give corresponding information."

The council said it would not replace all the signs, but has ordered plastic discs displaying the imperial distances and these would be placed over the metric numbers over the next few weeks at a cost of £229.

Updated: 11:21 Friday, August 19, 2005